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Layered double hydroxides as drug delivery systemsLDHs possess a remarkable and significant characteristic, namely the interchangeability of their interlayer anions. This unique feature enables the intercalation of diverse organic anions [20] , inorganic anions [21] , polymetric anions [22] , and drug molecules [23] within the LDHs' interlayer, resulting in a range of distinct functionalities. Previous investigations have successfully demonstrated the efficacy of LDHs as carriers for various therapeutic agents, including anti-inflammatory drugs [24] , antimicrobial agents [25] , and adjuvants for DNA vaccines [26] . In the realm of drug delivery systems, LDHs offer several advantages, such as enhanced solubility, diffusion properties, and thermal stability of the loaded drug molecules, as well as the ability to achieve a controlled release rate without inducing adverse effects on the human body [27] . Meyn et al. conducted a comprehensive study on the anion exchange capacity of LDHs, revealing a preference for anion exchange as follows: CO3 2-> SO4 2-> HPO4 2-> OH -> F -> Cl -> Br -> NO3 - [28] . Consequently, in current research pertaining to LDHs as drug carriers, particular emphasis has been placed on investigating nitratetype and chloride-type LDHs due to their remarkable ion exchange capacity [29,30] . However, despite numerous studies focusing on the drug release characteristics of LDHs, limited research has delved into comprehensive characterizations of the post-release particles. While many studies attribute the pH-responsive release of LDHs under acidic conditions to partial dissolution [31][32][33] , there is insufficient data to substantiate this claim. Relying solely on the drug release behavior of LDH carriers without proper supporting data and mechanistic understanding may impede the development of LDHs for appropriate applications. Thus, it is crucial to acquire novel and in-depth mechanistic insights into the post-release behavior and structural changes of LDHs, offering valuable knowledge in this field. Additionally, despite extensive investigations on LDHs as drug delivery systems, the majority of successfully loaded drug molecules have been anionic in nature, primarily due to the inherent structural characteristics of LDHs. The positively charged layer plates of LDHs necessitate the presence of negatively charged anions to maintain structural stability by balancing the charge between the layers [34] . Consequently, the commonly employed ion-exchange drug loading strategy poses significant challenges when attempting to load hydrophobic drugs onto LDH carriers, as these drugs typically exist in a non-ionic state in their active form. As a result, research on LDHs as carriers for hydrophobic drugs has remained limited thus far, despite the significant proportion of hydrophobic drugs within the pharmaceutical field. Notably, numerous important drugs, including anticancer agents [35] , cardiovascular drugs [36] , antibiotics [37] , and central nervous system drugs [38] , fall into t...